Machine for calendering linoleum and like fabrics.



J. WRIGHT.

MACHINERY FOR OAL ENDERING LINOLEUM AND LIKE FABRICS.

APPLICATION EILED APR. 10, 1908.

I Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

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UNITED s'rAT s rnT-ENT onnron.

JOHN. WRIGHT,'OF,POLLOKS HIELDS, SCOTLAND.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8', 1908.-

Application filed April 10, 1908. Serial N 0. 426,280.

material and backing pass between and'are directly acted upon by calendering rolls is unsatisfactory, in that what may be termed the rogressive squeezing action of the rolls ten s to contort or displace the material upon the backing.

This invention has for its object to provide a simple and effective step-by=step calendering machine in which during the pressing operation the material and 1 bacl'ri'ng are held between platesthe distortion referred tobeing thus avoided. Such a machine although specially applicable in the manufacture of linoleum of the kind referred to is'also of advantage for certain other analogous calendering purposes.

A machinemade according to theinvention comprises essentially a pair of pressing plates, the one below, the other above the: lmoleum fabric and adapted to transmit-pres sure to it. These platesare soguidedas to be reciprocable between a pair of pressing rolls or cams. In operation, the linoleum fabric. is moved forward step-by-step, and at each step, the plates are passed between the pressing rolls or cams, ,so pressing that part of the fabric whichisbetween them at that time.

The improved machine is shown in side elevation on an accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings, to be hereinafter referred to in particularly describing the invention.

As shown in the drawing, the machine comprises two parallel and comparatively long side frames, A. Between these at one end is arranged a feeding drum, A of considerable size. Ontothis drum the fabric, B, to be pressed isled by guide rollers, B B From the upper surface of the drum,

A the fabric'passe's between a pair; of pressing-plates', C C Brackets, D, extending upwardly from'each end of the upper ress= ing plate, C carry-rollers, D which uring .the backward movement of the plates, as-

hereinafter described, run-upon horizontal guide rails, D carried along the inner sideof each side frame, A. The lower plate, C is suspended from the upper plate by being secured to the lower end of' headed bolts, E, passing freely through apertures in the upper plate and in strengthening bars, E extending between the brackets, D, on each side of the upper surface of'upper plate, the length of the bolts, E, being such that when the plates, C C are not being acted on by ressing rolls, as hereinafter described, the ower plate falls by its own weight sufiiciently toallow the fabric, B, to pass freely between the plates.

The race for the pressing plates, C, G extend between a pair of pressing rolls, G G carried in fixed bearings on the framing, A, the upper-roll, G being cylindrical, while the lower roll, G is cam=shaped so that the" pressing plates-are nipped between the rolls for-a certain roportion of "each revolution;

Preferably" 0th rolls, G G are driven through gearing (not shown) from anysuitable source of ower, and when their surfaces engage the p ates, C C they carry them through the rolls, effectively pressing the portion of the fabric, B, which is then between them, this forward movement of the pressing plates, carrying the fabric. through the ma chine. In thedrawings, though the rolls are shown atthebeginning of their action on the plates, the latter areleft slightly a art in or:-

Vhen the der toshow the parts clearly. plates, have-passed the rolls, the-lower plate, C drops, freeing the;fabric; andasthe part of least diameter on the lower roll is then uppermost, the space between the rolls is then suflicient to allow thetwo plates to be moved back in their open position through the rolls to engage a fresh part of the fabric on their nextforward movement. The plates, 0, C

may be moved back in this manner by hand;

but preferably this movement is effected mechanically by means of a in, H, working in a slot, H in one end of a ever H fixed on a short shaft, J, capable of rocking in bearings in one of theside frames, A- On the shaft, J,

is also secured a pawl lever, J and from the end of the trunnion of the lower roll'G there projects a pin, J SOl Positioned, that when outer end of the pawl lever, J

also moves back the upper end of the lever,

PP, which in turn, pulls back the plates "Q,L C the carrying rollers, D of these plates then running upon the horizontal guide rails, D as hereinbefore described. During the forward movement of the plates, the pin, J moves out of contact with the end of the lever, J so that the upper end of the lever, H is free to move forward with the plates, and the outer end of the lever, J, is also then lowered into the position in which it is in the way of the pin, J when the next backward movement of the plates is to be effected.

From between the plates, C C the fabric, B, passes over and under guide rollers, K K to a take-up roll or beam, K, arranged between the side frames, A. lhe roller, K is arranged in vertical slots so that its weight acts to tension the fabric and at the same time permit of slight irregularity of the takeup motion. The roll, K, is rotated in known manner by a modification of the well known variable take-up motion consisting of a disk, K on the axle of the roll, and rotated by frictional contact of a pulley, K, carried by a sleeve, K on a vertical shaft, K, intermittently rotated as hereinbefore described. On a collar on the sleeve, K is a pin, K engaging the forked end of a lever, L, on a horizontal shaft, L a second lever on which engages with the s indle of a roller, L bearing on the surface 0 the fabric, B, wound on the beam, K, so that the position of the pulley, K and consequently the rotation of the beamdepends on the quantity of fabric on the latter, thereby insuring a uniform takeup of fabric. On the lower end of the vertical shaft, K, is a bevel pinion, M, gearing with a bevel wheel, M on one end of a horizontal shaft, M on the opposite end of which. is a pinion, M gearing in turn with a bevel wheel, N, fitted with a ratchet and pawl N operated by a connecting rod, N connected to the lower end of the lever, H the ratchet being so set that the vertical shaft, K and consequently the take-up roll, K, is intermittently rotated only at each forward movement of the pressing lates, C C

Preferably, the ta :e-up mechanism is only sufficient to tension the fabric, that is, the fabric is not independently drivenit is car ried through the machine by the movements of the pressing plates. It may, however be moved independently. When, as hereinbefore described, it is not moved independently, it is clear that what may be termed the successive areas of pressing performed by the plates, C C would only just join; conse quently there would be great risk of markings between them.

In order to make the pressed areas overlap and obviate this, the feeding drum, A over which the fabric passes upon its entry into the machine, is rotated a few degrees backwards carrying with it the fabric during each return movement of the plates, the bearing of thejpwer guide roll, K being elongated to permit .ofv this backward movement. This movement may very conveniently be brought about by a friction pawl, P, engaging a drum, P fl fix'ed on the axle'of the feeding drum, A a rod, P connecting the pawl with the u per portion of the lever, H so that the paw P, is made to engage with the drum, P only on the backward movement of the pressing plates, C 0 when the fabric, B, is free to be moved back by the backward movement of the feeding drum, A, thus effected.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A machine for calendering linoleum and the like fabric, comprising in combination, a pair of pressing plates (C C brackets (D) on each end of the upper pressing plate (C rollers (D in said brackets, guide rails (D on which said rollers run, pressing rolls (G G carried in bearings on the frame, the lower roll being cam shaped so that during part of a revolution, the pressing plates are nipped together while the fabric is moved forward, substantially as described and shown, and for the purpose set forth.

. 2. A machine for calendering linoleum and like fabrics, comprising in combination, a pair of pressing plates (0 C brackets (D) on each end of the upper pressing plate (C rollers (D in said brackets, guide rails (D on which said rollers run, the lower plate (C being suspended from the upper (G bolts (E) in the upper plate passing throu h holes in the lower plate (0 so that the atter is free to fall away from said upper plate, to allow the fabric to pass freely between said plates, guide rollers (B B leading said fabric, pressing rolls (G G mounted in the machine frame, the lower roll (G being cam shaped, said rolls being driven from a suitable source of ower, so that when they seize the plates 1 and C the latter nip the fabric and are carried forward with it, a short shaft (J) rocking in bearings, a lever (H fixed on said shaft, said lever having a slot (H at one end, a pin (H) on said plate (C engaging in said slot, a pawl ever (J on said shaft, a pin (J on the end of the lower roll (G which engages with the said lever (J when the said plates (0 C are to be moved back, a take up roll (K), guide rollers (K K for said fabric, a known type of take up motion, a bevel wheel (M) on the lower end of the vertical shaft of said take up motion, a horizontal shaft (M a bevel wheel (M on said shaft, a pinion (M at the other end of said shaft, a bevel wheel (N) in gear with said pinion, a pawl and ratchet (N a connecting rod (N connected to lower end of said lever (H said ratchet being so set that the shaft of the take up motion is intermittently rotated at each forward movement of the pressing plates, substanfabric, pressing rolls (G tially as described and shown, and for the purpose set forth.

8. A machine for calendering linoleum and like fabrics, comprising in combination, a pair of pressing plates (C C brackets (D) on each end of the upper pressing plates (0), rollers (D in said brackets, guide rails (D on which said rollers run, the lower plate (0*) being suspended from the upper (C bolts (E) in the upper plate passing through holes in the lower plate (0*) so that the latter is free to fall away from said upper plate, to allow the fabric to pass freely between said plates, guide rollers (B B) leading said G mounted in the machine frame, the lower roll (G being cam shaped, said rolls being driven from a suitable source of power, so that when they seize the plates (C and C the latter nip the fabric and are carried forward with it, a short shaft (J) rocking in bearings, a lever (H fixed on said shaft, said lever having a slot (H at one end, a pin (H) on said plate (C engaging in said slot, a pawl lever (J on said shaft, a pin (J on the end of the lower roll (G which engages with the said lever (J when the said plates (C C are to be moved back, a take up roll (K), guide rollers (K K for said fabric, a known type of take-up motion, a bevel wheel (M) on the lower end of the vertical shaft of said take up motion, a horizontal shaft (M a bevel wheel (M on said shaft, a pinion (M at the other end of said shaft, a bevel wheel (N) in gear with said pinion, a pawl and ratchet (N a connecting rod (N connected to lower end of'said lever (H said ratchet being so set that the shaft of the take up motion is intermittently rotated at each forward movement of the pressing plates, a drum (P) on the feeding drum, a frictiod pawl (P) engaging with said drum (P a rod (P connecting said pawl with the up er portion of the lever (H so that the pawl fl) engages with the drum (P only on the backward movement of the pressing plates, when the fabric is free to be moved backwards by the backward movement of the feeding drum, substantially as described and shown, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN WRIGHT.

Witnesses:

JAMES CRAWFORD, J. T. WILSON. 

